Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 16
Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

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Page 352
________________ 326 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [NOVEMBER, 1887. such a large rashing stream as the one before glass and foul matter! The skin still had a her. She therefore first put one foot and then scratched and wounded look, so the princess the other into the water, and was hesitating applied the excrement once more to it and whether to proceed further or withdraw, when in a few hours the prince was so well as to be suddenly she found herself gliding smoothly able to rise and walk about ! and at her ease over the surface of the water. The joy of his parents knew no bounds at In a very short time she was on the other side this miraculous restoration of their son to of the river, and found that she had arrived in health, to say nothing of the great gratification quite a strange land. of the princess who had, however, to disBeing dressed and equipped like an itinerant semble and wear a most disinterested look. physician (vaid) she soon gathered a large Prince Sabar's father, the old king, who crowd around her, from whom she speedily took her only for a wandering said, offered obtained information about Prince Sabar's to bestow on her any amount of gold she condition. She was told that his life had been wished for, but she stoutly refused to take despaired of and that though there were a anything at all. The prince and his parents number of the most skilful physicians attend were grieved at this refusal, and the latter in ing him, their united efforts had up to that their anxiety to reward their son's deliverer by time failed to give him any relief. any means in their power, tried to force the Upon this the princess quickly turned her richest gifts they could think of on her; bat steps towards the royal palace, and arriving the princess was firm, and told them that she there boldly proclaimed that she possessed the was resolved to accept of nothing in conmeans of curing the prince, and desired to be sideration of her services, except the ring the taken to him. prince had on his finger, the dagger he wore As the prince's father had issued a procla- by his side, and the silk handkerchief he had mation calling apon physicians from far. and in his hand. The prince at once divested wide to come and try their skill upon his himself of the three things she had asked for, beloved son, the disguised princess was at and made them over to her. She put them in once led into the presence of her long-lost her valise, and saying that she was content lover. She was much grioved to see his wan with what she had got at once left the palace. looks and emaciated condition, and tears stole By the help of her miraculous sandals down her cheeks; but she dashed them off, she once more forded the river and after a long and putting on a brave front, ordered a soft journey by land, arrived at her own palace. white sheet to be brought to her; and laying Casting off her disguise, she decked herself it on the floor, spread a quantity of the bird's in a beautiful and becoming costume, and excrement thickly over it. She then carefully taking the magio fan in her hand summoned wrapped it all round the prince's person and the prince before her. placing his head upon a pillow stroked it gently This time he soon obeyed the potent manwith her own soft hands till he fell into a date, and came to her. He however, stood sweet slumber. His parents were surprised before her with his head turned away, and and delighted at this, for though the poor said angrily - prince had long been unconscious of everything “Why should you want my company now? around him, he had known no sleep for Surely your dear sisters' company ought to days. be enough for you!" After a few hours' deep slumber during But the princess pretended not to underwhich the princess sat by his bedside watching stand him, and said :him, the young man opened his eyes. The “Tell me, my dear lord, all that haplook of acute suffering that had been for pened to you after you forced me that months seen on his visage was now gone and day to send you away? I have been so he appeared calm and refreshed. unhappy since then, and none of my wicked The princess then removed the sheet from his sisters have visited me in your absence, for I body, and what was the surprise of every one have resolved to have nothing to do with them, present to see it covered with any amount of after the most cruel way in which they served

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